Stoker



.Oct. 31, 1944. w. M; FULTON STOKER Filed Oct. 4, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 AS m: Q ATA WN WN &mentor #um r 4237 attorneg Oct. 31, 1944.

w. M. FULTON 2,3-61,836

STOKER Filed Oct. 4, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 3 Cttomeg Oct. 31, 1944.

W. M. FULTON STOKER Filed Oct. 4, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 &mentor attornegs Oct. 31, 1944. w. M. oN

STOKER Filed Oct. 4, 1940 5 Sheets-Shee'g 5 &mentor maz: 714 am:: ,I

attomegs Patented Oct. 31, 1944 U N-l' TE-D' S TAT ES PATENT OFFICE y V i 2,36 ,ss6 4 H STOKER i Weston M. Fulton; Knoxvlle,` Tem., assigor to `W. J.,Savage Company, 1110.', Knoxv'lle', Tenu.,` aicorporation of ;Tennessee Application October 4, 1940, Serial No 359394 i\ 17 Claims. (CI. 110-401 stckers, and more particularly to stokers of the general type set forthinmy prior application, Ser..No.224*,394,filed August11,1938`.

Experience hasi deinonstrated the fact that where fuel, is fedfdire'ctly on top of the fuel bed intavheater, it isdifcult to obtain a. fuelbed having a fairly 1evel`topjsurfac.' Foriinstance, some stokers proposed` heretofore cause the fuel to pile upin the center of the fuelbed; thus making the bed much thicker in itsflcentra portion than it is around the periphery thereof'. i'

Furthermore, the largestand most immediate demand forst-okers of this type, is for use in heating plantsi that have employed hand firing heretofore, but a stoker to supply this demand, must eredatthe fire door. various` mechanical devices `have been proposed heretofore for accomplishing this purpose, but they have possessed objccticnable characteristics. beensuggestedto blow the fuel from the fire door entranceinto the fire box. To be fairlysucc'ssful, this method 'would require a source of high pressure steam, whichiis seldom if ever available inhouse heating plants, because, Wherestea'm is used as, the heating medium, very lowpressure offonei or two pounds is used; and where hot water or hotair is used, steam is`not,;avai1ab1e at all. A rotatfng wheel having radially extending blades used to .throwcthe tuelinto the fire box bythe "undershot" method requires the fuel to pass below the axis of rotation and thisresults in clogging-the feeder duetothedownward forcing of the fuel against the bottom of thefeed tial distance in ,the heater after it has been deliv- For instance, high pressure steam has trough thus allowing lumps .tobe caught between the descending blades of the wheel and the feed trough. If. the rotation of the wheel he refversed so-as to feed the fueiin an ffovershot manner, then some of thefuel iswasted,` gathers in the bottom of the fuel trough` and finally causes clogging. 4

The object of th s invention is` to improve the Construction of the stoker of the` class described, in which` the objections heretofore encounter-ed in connection withballistic fue] feders are conpletely obviated permitting the practical, utilizaton ,of th s typeiotstoker, and yet` in a Construction which. 'can be:` manufacturedn economically and used practically, and` in whichprovisionis made for securing aneven distribution of the fuel over the fuel bed duringsf'eeding thereof into the heater.

` This object'is accomplished by the provision of a patical structure .as hereinafter described, a breferred' embodiment oj which, together with modifications thereof, are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

` Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form 'of the invention shown applied to a conventional formof heater;

Fig: 2 is, a partial vertical sectional view therethrough, with partsinelevation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View thereof'; Fig. 4 is a horizontal gsectional View therethrough, on` the line d liof Fig. 2;

F 5` is' a detail vertical cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; i i

Fig.f` is a detail elevation of the fuelleveling bar,` taken. on the line G-GctFig, 2;

Fig. 7 isfia perspective iew of the levelingvrod supporting and guiding device, detached; i

Fi'g. 8'is a perspective view of aballistic fuel injector detached;

Fig. 9 is a' perspective view of the fuel'defiecting mechanism and its adjusting means, detached;

`jFg; 10 is a transverse sectiona View therethrough onthe line 10-10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a similar View on the line II--I I of Fig. 10. e

The invention is shown in connection with a heater' designated generally by the numeral 1.. which may'be'of any conventional form to which it may be desired to feed fuel by a stoker, such ,as a house heating furnace of the boiler or other type as desired. The furnace I is shown as having the usual combustion chamber 2 therein adapted' to( contain a fuel bed F to which fuel may be fed as desiredthrough the usual opening 3` normally controlled by atfire door.

When the invention isapplied to a heater of the type already inuse, the usual fire doorisre- 'moved from over the opening 3, and is replaced by a frame 4` (Figs. 3 and 4), which is Secured to the heater by bolts 5.. The frame 4 has two sepi ariatej openings thereini and 1, which are ararranged in front of the heater 1, of a size to contain a predetermined quantity of fuel to supply the heater for a substantial period of time. The hopper l l has a back wall [2 behind which is provided an enlarged compartment |3 formed between a bottom wall I4 and a top wall [5. A tubular extension IE projects from the Compartment |3 through the opening 1 substantially to the combustion chamber 2 of the heater, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The tubular extension !6 is Secured to the heater by means of the bolts 5.

This tubular extension !6 is shown in Fig..5 as rectangular in cross section and has partitions l1 and I 8 dividing the same into three superposed passageways !9, 20 and 2l, respectively, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The hopper H has an upward extension 22 adjacent the back thereof within which are mounted interfitting twin screws 23, constituting a conveyor and constructed substantially as set forth in my prior patent on Feeder, No. 2,173,414, granted September 19, 1939. A baflle plate 24 extends downward in the hopper ll in front of the twin-screw conveyor to keep the major portion of the body of fuel in the hopper, away from interference with the rotation of the conveyor screws, while allowing the fuel to be fed thereto adjacent the bottom thereof. A retention plate 25 extends vertically along the back of the conveyor 23, and is spaced from the back wall 12 of the hopper a sufficient distance to allow fuel to fall back between the retention plate and the back wall, through an opening 26 in the latter, if it should fail to be injected into the fire chamber of the heater as hereinafter described. This fuel return means is claimed in a, copending application for Fuel feeders, Ser. No. :398,501, filed June 17, 1941.

The upper ends of the twin screws 23 have I gears 21 and 28 fixed thereon and intermeshing with each other. A drive gear 29 meshes with the gears 21 and 28, and is fixed on the slow speed shaft of a speed reducer designated generally by nected with the retention plate at the upper end of the screw conveyor 23 to receive fuel therefrom. The fuel-injecting wheel 4l is arranged adjacent the forward end of the passageway !9, but spaced therefrom.

Thus, when the fuel is elevated from the hopper l l by the twin screw conveyor 23 into the upper end of the chute 45, it is discharged directly onto the rotating wheel 4l. The fuel drops into the pockets or buckets formed in the periphery of the wheel between the blades 44, and due to the high speed of rotation of the wheel, these blades exert a strong force on the fuel to throw it tangentially from the wheel 4I through the passageway !9 into the combustion chamber 2 of the heater, as shown in Fig. 2. As will be evident therein, by imparting to the wheel 4I, the proper speed of rotation and by adjustlng the chute 45 the numeral 30, this being of any well-known construction. The speed reducer 30 has a high speed drive shaft; 3l which is driven by a pulley 32 thereon, connected with a belt 33 that extends to a pulley 34 mounted on the armature shaft of an electric motor 35. speed reducer 30 are mounted on a bracket 36 secured upon the uppervend of the *hopper extension 22 and upon the top !5 of the Compartment l3, which bracket 36 also extendsover the gears 21 and 28.

Journaled inopposite sides of compartment l3 is a shaft 31 having a pulley, 38 thereon connected by a ,belt 39.with a pulley 40 mounted on the h gh speed shaft 3| of the speed reducer 30, to mpart a high speed rotation to the shaft 31 upon the operationtof thetelectric motor 35.

Mounted cnthe shaft 31 is a fuel-injecting wheel designated generally by the numeral 4l and shown in detail in Fig. 8. The wheel 4| is constructed with an annular drum 42 with outwardly proecting annularfianges 43 thereon and having blades 44 extendlng transversely .between the flanges 43 radially of thedrum and cooperating with the flanges to form buckets or pockets therebetween. 'Thefuel-injecting wheel 4l is mounted in the compartment [3 beneath the lower end of a chute 45, which chute extends substantially to a point approximately directly over the center of the wheel 41, so as to deliver fuel tothe top thereof, the upper end of the chute 45 being con- The electric motor 35 and to' discharge the fuel onto the wheel at the proper point, the fuel can be thrown directly through the compartment l9 into the combustion chamber of the heater.

Heretofore, the ballistic type of feeders proposed have been objectionable because if fuel particles should fall onto the upper edges of the rotating blades, these particles would not have as much force imparted to them as if they had fallen in front of a blade so as to receive the full force thereof. This would allow the particles to drop around the wheel and finally fill up the spacebetween the wheel and its enclosing housing, thus resulting in a clogging of the wheel which interferes with its proper rotation.

,However, I have overcome this objection by placing the forward edge of the wheel 4l sumciently far from the open end of the passageway !9, as well as from the inclined wall I 4 of the compartment !3, to provide a liberal space therebetween so that all waste fuel which would not have sufcient force imparted thereto by the rotating blades, to inject the same through the passageway s into the combustion chamber of the heater, would have freedom for return movement along the inclined wall l4, thence through the opening 26 into the hopper. The waste fuel thus discharged into the hopper I I is allowed to fall between the back wall of the hopper and the retention plate 25 to a point where it is picked up again by the conveyor 23 along with the other fuel thus elevated during the feedi ng operation. As pointed out above. the baffie 24 prevents the fuel from rising up around the bottom of the conveyor 23 sufiiciently high so that it would prevent the free discharge of the returned fuel through the opening 26 into the hopper. Furthermore, the action of the twin screws is such as to keep the fuel level very low at the opening 26, so as to accommodate this return fuel.

Located in passageway 20 is mechanism for causing the fuel to be defiected uniformly over the fuel bed F, as itis injected through the passageway s into the combustion chamber. This mechanism is shown in Figs. 2, 9, 10 and 11.

' An arm 46 extends lengthwise through the i passageway 20 having an opening 41 therein receiving an upstanding support 48 (Fig. 2) mounted on the partition l'l, upon which support the arm 46 is pivotally mounted at 49.

The arm 46 extends from the passageway 20 into the combustion chamber of the heater and has its forward end portion inclined downward at 50. Rigidly fixed to this inclined portion 50 is a bame 5l, to the opposite edges of which are hingedside baflles 52. The hinged connection between the battles 5l and 52 may be formed in any welt-.knownmanner; for-` instanca cylindrical lieys sl integral with the flxed bam M atopposite edges thereof andi I'ooselyreceived in concave grooves foimed' inthe inner-ed'ges o the s'd bales :52. Thispermits the side -baflles s t-:to he swung'upwardlrelative tothe -fixed bame 51 as shown'zin dottedllinesinFlg. ll'. The keys 53' and grooves 54 terminate atpoints spaced from: the` upperends of 'the side bames'szto provideiabutmentss stheteonwhich willlimit downward slidmgmavement of the side: bames' rela.- tiveto' thesflxedbam 5 1 The arm'lsir'beingvpivotallyvsupported at is capable-:of .verticalswinging' movementforbodily adjusting the bafilesa &IL-ST: in` the combustion chamber; 2* of the hea t'ert To provide tor` this adjusting movementtofthearmtdi on itspi vot*` 49: the backwazrd end of saidzarmisproyidedwith a rackr segmentassmeshiug with aworm: 51 which issuppontetzon ,azeverti'cad shetit 58; the lowenend ofwhich is: journaiectin nartitionl 1: as: shown in Flima, while' the; upperzemdthereofissj ournaledgin narti timi xl-:lazmcpmjectw thereabove: sufficently toreceive a; gezat'smflxedthereon. isa-shown` in Eig i; ;thegeasr H'Jmesheswithengear %lmounted onashaft" 6 la. having: its :lower aend'ioumazledinthe partijtion sl-ssand: itsl unper; end portion; jour;- naled zinthecover' 5.: A hand wheelvszz isrfixed Atithir opposi-te ends', the-shafts fiahasve fixed ,thereon laterally extend-ing; arm& m of which. is: interposed l between -cotledfsgring -ll and ani adjusting: screw' :12 as showrr in Fi'g. 10.

Thesprings- H and:adjustingserewslzuarezcazre ried: crossmembers :1-3 ;andfla respectivel-s, which are riveted: ondotherw isefixedto;the arm dsvat 1.5.

By meansofn this constmction; the-side-;baifies 52 may be adjusted toany desiredanglea'elative to theixel ballici l 2 tcx-defiect -thecfuel laterally'of the f uel bcd;inf the cambustien ichamber oi the heater.. On v tumingwthe screw 12: 1sosu as to. push downwardsonzth-e arms ,10, imparts a-zlikemovementtothearmsss- Swing-ing the:loafiles Sttlown:` wand.: Upon tu rningther sesews 1:22 in the ;oppoe site. direction th springs 'll .fo .ce ther armst 'to upward and raise the pivoted bafiles 52 relative to the fixed baille 5l substantially as indicatedlin dotted linesin` Eig, 1.1.

Bythese-. respective adi,ustmentsof: the baflles both boclily by' tilting movement of the 46, and` relative. to; each-3 other xbyturning-z movement of'the shafts 63, dualadjustability is obtained for deecting the injected-fuel over-:the surface ofrthe fuel bed F in the combustionchamber-2.:of the heater Erovision :is ;made alsofior oontrollingthethcke nessotthe fue! hedF i i-;theicombustionchamber zoftheheater ,swhicleisclaimed, nevertheleswirrga competition applicati'onfor lueiz feediug` machst-l nisi; Ser: No; 393,500,fi1ed'tJune:1;7;. 1941. This control'lii'gmeanszacts'bymeans of" arocl 11 a extends' lengthwise I through` passagewar lil; as showni-nEi'gs. 2'; z-and lpmjecting therefrdm into: the: ,combustiom chamher i 2:\ oti the` hecte:: The ;forward-1; endioftherod im in the combustion chamher is down-turned at; 'H: and; screw* thzreaded receivihg the hub portionr 158& of: `s; stirrup; 19:: thereon which sti'rup is: adjustably connectedswith the .down -tumedend 'H for rela tive vertical adjustment and is:` adaptedntd be lockedxin place.- thereon by aset screw 8032 The lower& endofthe: stirrup v 193 carries a: feele: `'lnytlre tion to contact theu surface*` of; the` fuel, in` the heate r and to ridetthereom Thepopposite end of: the rod; 16; has` a; ball and socket connection 82 with a; lever-armzsaon a shaft 84 -The-lower end,of--theshaft Miss-joni? *naled in the partition; |8while the upperend' thereof: extends through the top `I &and; hasrigidly mounted thereon a crank- 85. Pivotallv coni nected 'atasfia-withltheouter end ot the cranlmai (Big, 3)& is -a' linktlwhich-is pivotally connected alts a .withthe gear" 28. Thiis, rotation` ofathe gear 28 causes reciprccating movement of the link 8:1: oscillating the crank &Sendthereby-impai ting oscillatory" movement to the `lever arm &3; thus-swing-ing said lever arm and the-innerend of-therod-;TG as-shownin dottedlines iniF'igA.`

'I-'o provide, for the lateral oscillatory move-+1 ment ofv the-rodfl-e-upon the operation oithe shaft 84', said ircd is supported intermediate -itsendswi'n aigu'ding deviceshownin detail in-.Fig.: 7. guiding-.rdevice toi-'med of. a fi'ame 89,;having'a pair' of concave rollers' journaled therein. on pineal spaced apart a distance-sufficient towte.- ceive andz guidetherod 16 therebetween, which rides the concave= peripherel g rooves of the rollers The rollers iso\ reduce the friction which would develop otherwise from theslight longi'- tudina movementof .thezrod. 15 due to the arc i described by 4 the lever arm :83 in" ocillatng said rod..

Thev frame 89 has: axially` aligned journal pins az, and. 93 ;.extending thereirom. The journal pin 92 isijournaledin the bottom of a' well 94 formed in. theparttion |8 (Fig.` 2) into which the-lower portionof the frame 89.` extends.- The journal pin. ea extends. upward through the top 'IS in which it is journaled, in alignment with a, push button\ 95.` of a= push. button electric` switch ,96. This. switch 96 is of well-known construction' of the-typeused for controlling electri'c circuits .;in which, .however thepush 'buttons' 95 breaks the circuitwhenever it, is depressed, whilemelease of the pressure causes it to-close the electric clr:-` cuit automatically. The normally closed switch 95 is .connected. witha source of electricallsupply through linesflfl', while-.lines ssiextend from. the Switch to the electric. motor. 3.5, whereby the switch 96 Controls' the supplvof cuzrentito the telectric motor.

Provision` is made also .for manually; controlling the supply ofcurrent to the electric, motor 35"' independently of the switch 96, for. ,which purpose-I have'provided `a switch 99 connected inparallel with the. switch 96 through wires MU leading directly from the power line... &T to the switch 89, thence to, the wires 98, as shown in` Fi`g 2; The switch .99 is constructed for manual operation; and` is adapted foruse in teste n h e a q l he tqk w l lustnz the various working parts ast' thetime of'instal lation. It tis also of convenience if and when it 'should become necessary to remove large clinkers or other foreign matter through the fire door. By closing the switch 99, the operator closes the circuit to the electric motor 35 Operating the stoker mechanism, and thereby moving the round bar 8! to any desired position in the combustion chamber 2, so that it will not interfere with his operation. When the round bar 8l has been moved to such desired position, out of the way of the operator, the opening of the switch 99 stops further movement.

Before putting the stoker in operation, it is first necessary to adjust the fuel baflles 51 -and 52, so as to cause the fuel to spread evenly over the fue] bed F. To accomplish this, the switch 99 is closed to energize the motor 35 which drives pulleys 32 and 40 through the belt 33. This operates speed reducer 30 and drives the gears 21, 28 attached to the shafts of the twin screws 23, Operating the latter to convey fuel from the hopper Il to the trough 45, from which it discharges by gravity onto the ballistic wheel M, which is simultaneously rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, being driven from the pulley 40 by the belt 39. This fuel is thereby injected through the passageway |9 into the combustion chamber 2 of the heater.

As the fuel is thus being fed, its distribution over the grates is viewed through the opening 6 after the fire door 8 has been moved to an open position. The spread of fuel across the fire bed from front to back is adjusted by means of the baflle l, which is raised or lowered by the tilting of the arm 45 about the pivot 49. This is accomplished by the rotation of worm 51 operated by the hand wheel 62. The operation of the worm 51 to move the worm gear segment 56 downward causes a tilting movement of the' arm 46 to elevate the baifle 5| thereby increasing the amount of fuel thrown to the ri ht hand side of the combustion chamber, as viewed in Fig. 2. The rotation of the worm 51 in the opposite direction lowers the baie 5l, and tends to direct a greater proportior of the fuel downward and to the left in Fig. 2. By looking through the fire door of the heater to observe the action of the fuel in being injected into the 'heater, the operator may manipulate the hand wheel 62 for proper adjustment of the baflle 5l to obtain the desired distribution from front to back in the combustion chamber.

Lateral adjustment is obtained by the angular positions of the pivoted baiiies 52, relative to the fixedbafiie 5I. Upon unscrewing of an adjusting screw 12 (Fig. so as to allow the spring TI to force the arm m upward, this imparts torsion to the shaft 53 to raise the arm 65, link 57, and its connected bafile 52, thereby increasing the proportion of the fuel deflected laterally to the adjacent side of the combustion chamber. Similar adjustment may be provided at the opposite side thereof.

By means of these several adjustments, an even' distribution of fue] can be obtained over the entire surface of the fuel bed, and upon making these adjustments for any particular kind of fuel, such as coke, stove material, etc., it is seldom necessary to change the adjustment once made.

Having thus adjusted the distribution of fuel over the grates of the heater, the device is ready I for operation, and the manual switch 99 is opened, thereb-y stopping the electric motor 35,

subject to the control of the current thereto auto-- matically under the control of switch 96.

Assuming that fire has been started in the heater but that the level of the fuel bed is at or below that shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the bar 8l rests on top of the fuel bed, and by reason of its weight, said bar will pull downward on the rod 16, moving the guiding frame 89 to its lowermost position, such downward sliding movement being permitted by the guiding of the pivot pins 92-93. This moves the pin 93 out of pressure engagement With the switch button 95, permitting the switch 96 to snap into a closed position, thus supplyng current from the wires 91 to the wires 98 to energize the electric motor 35, Operating the moving parts of the stoker mechanism as described above.

The oscillating movement of the rod 16, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, causes the bar 8l to be dragged back and forth across the top of the fuel bed, leveling the surface of the fuel deposited thereon. As additional fuel is being injected into the combustion chamber, the top of the fuel bed rises gradually which lifts the bar 8l, pushing the inner end of the rod 16 upward to the dotted line position in Fig. 2. This raises the guide 89-90 until the pivot pin 93 thereof presses upward against the switch button 95 until the switch 96 snaps into open position, breaking the circuit to the electric motor 35, thus stopping the operation of the stoker. i

As the fire continues to burn, the consumption of fuel causes the top of the fuel bed to be lowered until the bar 8| is moved downward to the full line position in Fig. 2, which will pull downward on the arm 16 lowering the guide 89-90 away from pressure engagement with the switch button 95, closing the circuit to the electric motor 35, and Operating the stoker mechanism, as described above.

The oscillatory movement of the rod 16 about the guide 89-90, as a fulcrum, With its inner end in the combustion chamber 2, causes the round bar 8| to be dragged back and forth over the surface of the fuel bed F, as will be evident from Fig. 6, where the dotted line positions represent the two extreme limits of the oscillation; The ball and socket connection 82 permits of the slight twisting action of the rod 16 caused by the parts 'Il', 19 in assuming the angular positions indicated. The dragging of the round bar 8l back and forth over the surface of the fuel bed F aids in maintaining this surface substantially level and in distributing the fuel thereover.

It will be understood that the bar 8l can be adjusted to maintain the fuel bed of different thicknesses, by screwing it up or down on the threaded portion '11 of the rod 16. After making such adjustment, the set screw is tightened to hold the stirrup 19, carrying the bar 8 I, in its adjusted position on said rod, and with the axis of the bar 81, substantially in the direction shown in Fig. 2.

I claim:

1. The combination with a heater having a combustion chamber, of a fuel feeding conduit associated with the heater, means for injecting solid fuel through the conduit into the combustion chamber, and bafile means in the combustion chamber substantially in the path of the fuel thereto in position to deect the fue] and to distribute it over the surface of the combustion chamber, said baflle means including a central section and lateral sections arranged on opposite sides of said centralsection, and means for supporting' said later-al sections :for 'lateral tilting 'movement relative to `the `central section.

2. The combination with a heater having a combustion chamber, of a fuel lfeeding conduit extending 'app'roximately 'to the -combus`tion chamber, i mean tor injecting solid fuel through said Conduit into the `comlustion chamberg'and baffie' means in` the coinbustiori chamber substanti-ally in the path of -the fuel `-thereto in' position to defiect the fuel and -to'distribute -itov'er the surface of the 'com'bust-io'n. chamber, said `baflie means includinga central 'section and lateral sections arranged= on opposite sides i of said central seetiomand means for supporting saidlaterai sections for' lateral tiltingmovementrelative'to *thecentralsection I 3; The "combination with a' heater having a fiectthe fuel and to distribute it` over thesurface of the combustion chamber, andmeans for :supporting 'said bajliie means spaced from the end of the conduit andfor adjustingthe *same bodily todifi'erent positions relative to the Conduit, said baffie means including laterally spaced portions carried by said-supporting means and one of said portions being adjustable laterally relative to another of -said `portions of thebaflie means.

4. The combination with a heater having a combustion chamber, of a fuel feeding conduit extending *approximately to the combustion chamber, means for injecting solid uel through said Conduit into the combustion chamber, baflie means in the combustion chamber substantially in the path of the fuel thereto in position to defiect the fuel and to distribute it over the surface of the combustion chamber, said bame means including relatively movable baffie sections ,adjustable transversely of said conduit, and means for supporting said bafiie means and for bodily` adjusting the same to different positions relative to the. conduit.

5. In a stoker, the combination of a Conduit, means for injecting solid fuel through said conduit for discharge at an end thereof, and baffle means adjacent said discharge end of the conduit in the path of the fuel thereirom for distributing said fuel over a surface, said baffie means includ ing a central section and lateral sections arranged on opposite sides of the central section, and means for supporting said lateral sections for tilting movement in lateral directions relative to the central section.

6. In a stoker, the combination of a conduit, means for injecting solid fuel through said conduit for discharge at an end thereof, bafile means adjacent said discharge end of the conduit in the path of the fuel therefrom for distributing said fuel over a surface, said -bafiie means including a baie having one or more side baffies hinged thereto for relative swinging movement, and an arm secured to said first-mentioned bame and supporting the same.

7. In a stoker, the combination of a conduit, means for injecting solid fuel through said conduit for discharge at an end thereof, bame means adjacent said discharge end of the conduit in the path of the fuel therefrom for distributing said fuel over a surface, said bafile means including a baflle having one or more side bafiies hinged thereto for relative swinging movement, an arm Secured to said firstmentoned same :and porting the same, :means pivotally supper-tmi; said arm for bodily -swinging movement of *the bame means relative 'to the conduit,crand means for adjusting the side battle or bames relative'to the first-mentionedbaflie. i

8. In a stoken the combination of a conriuit, means "for injecting solid 'fuel ::through `:said conduit for discharge at'an end thereof,'bame meaus adj ace'nt said discharge end ofthe conduitintth'e path of 'the fue therefrom for distributingusaii fu'el-over a'surface, said baffle means including a bame having side baffles hinged to opposite edges thereof, an a'rm carrying the first-menr tioned bame, shaftsextending ;along :sa/id arm and having crank: means connecting said shafts with the side haffies, means forturnin'gisaid :shats to *adjust the positions of th'eside baflles, garing eonnccted with the arm to cause Swinging movement 'thereof for bodily'adjusting the baffle means relative to the conduit.

i *9. In a stoker,` the combination of 'wall'means having an opening, 'means for injecting 'fuei through said opening, bafiie means, 'meansfor supporting said bamezmeans adjacent said openingin thepath` of :the fuel therethrough *for distributing said `mel over a surface, :said hame means including a 'section and i a `"side 'section hinged to 'a lateral edge of said first-'mentioned section for swinging "movement relative thereto, and means for securing said *side .section insdifier'- ent adju'stedpos'itions relative to the' rst mentione'd section.

10. In a stoker, the-combinationiof*wall means having `'an opening, means for injecting :mei through said opening, bafile means adjacent said opening in the path of the fuel therethrough for distributing said fuel over a surface, said bame means including a section and a side section hinged to a lateral edge of aid first-mentioned section for swinging movement relative thereto, means for supporting said baffle means, a shaft having a crank connection with the side section,

and means for turning said shaft to adjust the side section relative to the first-mentioned section.

11. In a stoker, the combination of wall means having an opening, means for injecting fuel through said opening, baflie means adjacent said opening in the path of the fuel therethrough for distributing said fuel over a surface, an elongated having an opening, means for injecting fuel through said opening, `baflle means adjacent said opening in the path of the fuel therethrough for distributing said fuel over a surface, an elongatedarm supporting said baffle means on an end thereof,- means for pivotally supporting said arm intermediate the ends thereof for vertical tilting movement, and gearing connected with the,opposite end portion of said arm for; tilting the same.

4 13. In stoking mechanism, an elongated arm adapted to be positioned adjacent an opening through which uel is injected, bame means carried by said arm in position to be disposed in the path of said fuel for distributing the fue-1 over a cop? face deflected at an acute angle to the length of the arm for defiectng the fuel downwardly in the vertical longitudinal plane of the arm, a pivotal support for said arm for mounting the same for tilting movement, and means for tilting said arm on said pivotal support.

14. In'stoking mechanism, an arm adapted to be positioned adjacent an opening through which fuel is injected, baffie means carried by said arm in position to be disposed in the path of said fuel for distributing the fuel over a surface, a pivotal support for said arm for mounting the same for tilting movement,- means for tilting said arm on said pivotal support, said baffle mean including a main section and a lateral section, means mounting said* lateral section for lateral swinging movement relative to the main section, and means for securing said lateral section in different adjusted positions relative to the main section.

15. In stoking mechanism, an arm adapted to be positioned adja'cent an opening through which fuel is injected, baffie means carried by said arm in position to be disposed in the path of said fuel for distributing the' fuel over a surface, a pivotal support for said arm for mounting the same for tilting movement, means for tilting said arm on said pivotal support, said baflie means including a central section and side sections at lateral edges of said central section, means forming hinged supports for said lateral sections at the lateral edges of the central section for swinging movement of said lateral sections relative thereto, and

means extending lengthwise of the arm and carried thereby for securing said lateral sections in different adjusted positions relative to the central section.

16. In stoking mechanism, the combination of a support, bafiie means carried by the support in position to be disposed in the path of Injected material for distributing said material over a surface, said baffie means including a main section having a deflecting surface, means for supporting said main section with said deflecting surface at an angle to said path, and a lateral section having a defiecting surface, and means mounting said lateral section beside an edge of said main section for swinging movement about an axis extending approximately parallei with said edge in a direction transversely relative to said edge of the main section to different angular positions relative thereto.

17. In stoking mechanism, the combination of a. support, bame means carried by the support in position to be disposed in the path of Injected material for distributing said material over a surface, said bame means including a main section carried by the support and lateral sections on opposite sides thereof adjacent opposite lateral edges of said main section in side-by-side relation at an angle to the path of the injected material, and means mountng each of the lateral sections beside an edge of the main section for swinging movement about an axis extending approximately parallel with said lateral edge of the main section in a direction transversely relative to said edge to different angular positions relative thereto.

WESTON M. FULTON. 

